Forging press



Oct. 7, 1941.

D. s. BELL ET AL FORGING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1938 m mWM 4 e wB mi W Hn ML {QM/7 T L NN Q u \J Oct. 7, 1941. BELL AL 2,258,346

FORGING PRESS Filed June 13, 1938 5 SheerLs-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Dav/'H 5.Bell' and Byron W. Dunham Oct. 7, 1941. D, s. BELL ET AL FORGING PRESSFiled June 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Davif-f 5.. Bell andByron W. Dunham Oct. 7, 1941. D. s. BELL ETAL FORGING PRES 5 Filed June13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ma/M Dav/ff 5. Bell and Byron W.Dunham Patented Oct. 7, 1941 FORGIN G PRESS Davitt S. Bell, Pittsburgh,and Byron W. Dunham, Oakmont, Pa., assignors to Edgewater Steel Company,Oakmont, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 13, 1938,Serial No. 213,462

13 Claims.

This invention relates to presses for the forging of metal objects andhas particular utility for presses used in the preparation of bloomswhich are subsequently to be rolled into other forms, but its utility isnot confined to such field of use.

The present invention provides a press wherein a succession of steps canbe performed in rapid sequence and which facilitates the forging ofmetal shapes where a. number of different dies are required. Accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the press isprovided with a bed and a reciprocable head movable up and down withrespect to the bed. There are a plurality of dies on the bed which canbe selectively moved relatively to the bed into operative position, anda plurality of dies on the head which can also be selectively movedrelatively to the head into operative position. It is furthercontemplated in the preferred embodiment of the invention that there becooperating dies on the head and on the bed of the press so positionedas to provide different pressing stations in a direction fore and aft ofthe press.

According to the present invention there is provided, in combinationwith the press for such arrangement of dies, work handling means bymeans of which the work can be lifted off the dies on the bed of themachine and held in suspension while the dies are being shifted andwhich also is preferably operative for moving the work piecehorizontally in a fore and aft direction to certain of the differentworking positions or stations. By reason. of this arrangement, a numberof different forging operations with different combinations of dies canbe performed in a single press unit in relatively rapid sequence andwith a single heating of the blank, greatly increasing the utility andflexibility of a single press unit and effecting considerable economy inthe forging of metal blanks.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 represents a horizontal section through apress embodying our invention, the section being in a plane above thebed of the press;

Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section through the press, theview being substantially in the plane of line IL-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the press in a planeat right angles to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the lower portion of the rear of the pressshowing one form of manipulator mechanism;

Figure 5 is a detailed view partly in side elevation and partly insection of one of the manipulators;

Figure 6 is a transverse section in the plane of line VI-VI or Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view generally similar to Figure 1,

but showing the manipulator replaced with a.

ring die which ring die may be employed in certain pressing operations;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, being a section through a portion of aring die which is used in place of the manipulator, the section beingtaken in the same plane as Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a more or less schematic view illustrating an initialforging operation at the front or forwardmost station of the threepressing positions from the front to the back of the press;

- position;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but wherein the slide on thehead of the press has been shifted to its other operative position andthe slide on the bed of the press has been shifted to bring its thirddie into operative position;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 9, but

" wherein the blank is at the rearmost of the three have not been shown.The bed 2 of the press 7 is provided with a channel 6 which runscrosswise of the press from one side toward the other, and in thischannel is a slide or carrier 7 having a plurality of forming diesthereon, three such dies being shown. They are indicated in Figure 2 andin Figures 10, 11 and 12 as la, lb, and 1c. The slide 1 may bereciprocated back and forth by any suitable mechanism to bring any oneof the three dies la, lb, or lc in a central position or at a centralstation under the reciprocating head 4.

As one means of reciprocating the slide 1, we have shown a hydrauliccylinder 8 having a piston rod 9 connected to one end of the slide 1.The travel of the slide is limited at the right hand end by uprightstops or abutments I against which the end of the slide contacts whenthe slide is pulled over to the extreme end limit of its travel asviewed in Figure 2. At the opposite limit of its travel, the movement ofthe slide is stopped by a transverse abutment II. The abutments I0 andII are so positioned that when the slide is. at one limit orthe other ofits travel, the corresponding die Ia or 'Ic, as the case may be, will beaccurately positioned in the pressing position under the verticalreciprocable head of the press. For stopping the slide 1 at amidposition to bring the middle die 11) into operative position, thereis provided an abutment or stop I2 best shown in Figure 2 which normallylies in a position below the path of travel of the slide 1. By means ofa lever I3 and a hydraulic cylinder I4, this abutment may be projectedupwardly at the proper time into the path of travel of the slide I as itmoves from the position shown in Figure 2 toward the position reachedwhen the slide contacts the retractable abutment I2.

.The cylinder 8 for operating the slide 1 and the cylinder I4 foroperating the abutment I2 may be controlled through any suitable fluidpressure valve system, not shown, and forming no part of the presentinvention.

Carried on the reciprocable head 4 is a transversely reciprocable slideI5 having means I6 at two positions thereon for holding dies I5a andI5b. These dies are illustrated as being pot dies. The slide I5 isprovided with an internal cylinder I1 havinga packing gland I8 at oneend and a packing gland I9 at the other end. Extending through the glandI8 is pipe (see Figure 2) and passing through the gland I9 is a pipe 2!having a piston 22 on that end which terminates within the cylinder II.Secured to the reciprocable head of the press are fixed abutments 23 and24 which are in the path of travel of the slide and which limit itsmovement. In Figure 2 the slide is shown at the right hand limit of itsmovement as viewed in this figure, and the die I5a is in the centralpressing position. By injecting fluid under pressure through the pipe2I, the slide l5 may be moved to the left as viewed in Figure 2 untilthe end of the slide hits the fixed abutment 23 at which time the dieI5b will be in the central operating posi ion. When the slide is in theleft-hand posilion, fluid under pressure may be forced through pipe 20into the cylinder to bring the slide back to the position shown inFigure 2, the abutment 2d limiting the movement of the slide in thisdirection. The slide I5 is positioned directly over the slide '5 so thatthe dies I5a and I5b may be selectively used with the dies Ia, 'Ib, and1c in any desired sequence. The control of the fluid pressure throughthe pipes 20 and 2| to operate the slide I5 may be under any suitablevalve arrangement, not shown. Fluid under pressure may, for example, beconstantly applied through the pipe 20 to exert a biasing force tendingto always urge the slide l5 to the position shown in Figure 2, and it ismoved from this position only when a higher pressure is applied throughthe pipe 2! to the opposite end of the cylinder. In order to providethis biasing pressure, the pipe 20 may connect with vertically extendingpipe 25 which passes through gland 26 into a vertical cylinder orchamber 27 into which the fluid is expelled under pressure when a higherfluid pressure is applied to the opposite end of the cylinder throughpipe 2I and from which the fluid flows back into the cylinder when thepressure is relieved by pipe 2 I.

On the reciprocable head 4 directly in front of the center there is adie 28. On the stationary bed of the press directly under the die 28 isa cooperating die 28. On the upper head 4 directly back of thecenter andin line with the die 28 is a die 29 which is preferably a punching die.This cooperates with a die 29' on the bed 2 of the machine. The die 29has an opening therethrough through which the punch of the die 29 maypass. There is a channel 30 provided through the die 29. and the bed ofthe machine through which punched out material may fall.

In the operation of the press it is contemplated that an elongatedbillet of cylindrical form, for example, may be placed end up on the die28. The head.of the press is then lowered so that die 28 engages theupper end of the heated billet and bows out the sides of itto anydesired degree. This is indicated in Figure 3 where the billet which hasbeen operated upon is designated X. The pressing of the billet in thisway imparts a preliminary shape and also causes scale on the surface ofthe billet to crack off. After the billet has been pressed in thisposition, it is moved back to the center position where it is subjectedto a sequence of operations employing the dies Ia, lb, 76, I541 and I5?). Either before or after or at any intermediate stage in thissequence of operations in the center series of dies has been completed,the piece is transferred to the die 29 and operated upon by the die 29.As previously stated, this may be a punching operation.

For transferring the piece from the initial position to the centerposition and from the center position to the rear position on the die 29and accurately positioning it in the station to which it is moved, thereis provided a manipulator mechanism which is capable of lifting the workand moving it in a direction from the front to the rear or from the reartoward the front as may be required. One form of manipulator foraccomplishing this purpose is illustrated. While one specific form ofmechanism is particularly described, it will be understood that this ismerely by way of illustration and that the manipulator may be otherwiseconstructed. At the rear of the press there is a cross frame 35 having adepending center guide post 36 attached thereto. At each end of thecross frame is a piston 31, these pistons cooperating with hydrauliccylinders 38. The cylinders 38 may be controlled from a fluid pressuresource, not shown, by any known system of valves, causing the pistons 37to be raised and lowered for raising or lowering the frame 35. Carriedon the frame 35 are two transversely movable slides 39, one at each sideof the center of the frame. At each end of the frame 35 there is ahydraulic cylinder 40. Each cylinder operates a piston 4| which isconnected at 42 with one of the slides 39. By means of these, cylinders40 and their pistons 4|, the two slide members 39 can be moved towardand away from the longitudinal center of the press. In order that theymay both move to the same extent and be at all times equi-distant fromthe longitudinal center line, there is a link 43 connected to each ofthe slidable members 39. These links 43 are pivotally connected to avertically movable member 44 on the guide post 36. As the members 39move toward and away from each other, links 43 cause the slide member 44to move up anddown on the guide post 36. By reason of this linkage, thetwo members 39 must move toward and away from each other at the samerate and to the same extent.

On each of the slide members 39 is a bracket 45 shown in detail inFigure 5 into which is set a rigid arm 46 which extends horizontally ina fore and aft direction through the press between the bed 2 and thereciprocable head 4. There are two of these rigid arms 46, one on eachof the members 39 and they are parallel. Each of these arms 46 ispreferably non-circular in cross section. They are illustrated in Figure6 as being square and having a trough-shaped longitudinal recess 41 inthe bottom thereof. This trough shaped recess accommodates ajaw-operating rod 48. The rod 48 passes through the bracket 45 and isprovided at its rear end with a piston 49 in a hydraulic cylinder 50.Each of the members39 is provided with one of these cylinders 50, whichcylinders are in longitudinal alinement with the horizontal arms 46. Bycontrolling the fluid pressure on opposite sides of the pistons 49, rods48 can be moved back and forth relatively to the arms 46. Removablycarried on each of the arms 46 is a slidable jaw member formed with abearing portion 5| that fits about the arm 46 and is slidable along thearm, but is non-rotatable thereon and having jaw portions 52 which maymerely comprise a laterally extending projection in which is asubstantially V-shaped notch, best shown in Figure 1. On the outer endof each of the arms 46 is a fixed abutment member 53 having a flangedportion 54 to limit the travel of the jaw in one direction while thebracket 45 limits the travel of the jaw in the opposite direction. Formore accurately positioning the exact length of travel of the jaws alongthe arms 46, shims may be employed at 55 and 56 (see Figure 5). Theabutment member 53 on the outer end of each of the arms may be held inplace by a transverse key or pin 51.

In the operation of the manipulator, the frame 35 is moved up and downthrough the operation of hydraulic cylinders 36. The jaws are moved backand forth in a fore and aft direction by the operation of the hydrauliccylinders 50. The jaws are moved toward and away from each other intoand out of position to engage the work piece through the operation ofthe cylinders 40. There is thus provided a manipulator having two jawswhich can move toward and away from each other into and out of grippingposition and which can be moved in a fore and aft direction totransfer-the work piece from one position in the press to another andwhich can be raised up and down while engaging the work piece as well asat other times to lift the work piece off one die and set it down onanother. The slide 44 and links 43 require the jaws to move equallytoward and away from each other so that the work piece is always kept ina proper position with respect to a center fore and aft line midwaybetween the jaws. The jaws raise and lower as. a unit, and their travelin a fore and aft direction is equalized and limited by shims 55 and 56,so that the work piece, when it is engaged by the manipulator is setdown in an exact position to be engaged by the next dies which operateupon it.

The manipulator illustrated in the drawings operates in a fore and aftdirection only from the center position to the rear position as in manycases the work piece is transferred from the forward die block 28 to thecenter position by the same tongs that bring the billet to the press. Toextend the range of the operation of the manipulator, however, it willmerely be necessary to increase the length of the arms 46.

A typical operation of the press may be followed by reference to Figures9 to 13 inclusive. In Figure 9 the work piece designated X has just beensubjected to th initial squeezing operation between the die blocks 28and 28. In the next stage of the operation the slide 1 in the bed of themachin is shifted to move the die 1a into the central operatingposition; i. e., to the extreme left-hand limit of its travel as viewedin Figure 2, and the upper slide 15 is in the position shown in Figure 2at th right-hand limit of its travel so that the pot die |5a is over thedie la. In Figure 10 the secondstage of the pressing operation has beenillustrated Where the work piece X has been forced into the pot die I5a.Its height has been reduced in this operation and its diameter has beenincreased. Following this forging operation, the press opens and the potdie lifts. The jaws of the manipulator may then be brought into positionto engage and lift the work piece. The slide 1 is then shifted to bringthe die 7b into position under the pot die 15a after which themanipulator lowers the piece centrally onto the punch of die lb and thepress is again operated to lower the pot die l5a to engage the die lb.The manipulator is, of course, retracted at the proper time, and in thisoperation which is illustrated in Figure 11, a hole is forged part waythrough the blank. With the next opening of the press the manipulator isoperated to grip the work piece, lift it vertically oil the die lb. Whenthe work piece has been lifted clear of the die 1b and while it is heldin suspension by the manipulator, the slide 1 is again operated to bringthe die 10 into operating position and the upper slide I5 is alsooperated to bring the die I5b into working position. The manipulatorthen is operated to lower the work piece into the die 10 and after themanipulator has been retracted, the press is operated to perform theforging operation illustrated in Figure 12. When this operation has beencompleted, the press is opened, the manipulator jaws are broughttogether to grip the work piece, lift it from the die 1c, carry itrearwardly to a position over the punching die block 29' and set it downonto this block. The press is then operated as illustrated in Figure 13whereupon the forging of th blank in the press is completed. v

The invention provides a forging press in which a number of operationscan be performed in sequence with a single heating of the blank. Byproviding a slide on the bed of the press carrying a plurality of diesand a slide on the head of the press carrying a plurality of dies, inconjunction with a manipulator which enables the work piece to be pickedup and held in suspension between the upper and lowerdies while they arebeing shifted and also which is adapted to move the work piec in a foreand aft direction,

' there is provided an extremely flexible forging unit in which apredetermined sequence of operations can be rapidly carried out, andsince the several hydraulic cylinders which control the operations canbe remotely controlled, it is unnecessary for the workmen to stand inclose proximity to the machine or to enter their hands between the presswhile it is operating. In the forging of a work piece, its length may bereduced and its diameter increased. The manipulator herein describedwill grasp the work piece whatever its diameter within the range ofpieces of the size on which the press is intended to operate, and keepit centered.

In some cases it is desirable to replace the manipulator jaws with aring die. This may be readily done in the apparatus illustrated asclearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. The jaws and 52 may be removed and inplace of them the ring die carrier 60 is substituted. This ring diecarrier 60 comprises a frame having a bearing portion 6| at each endwhich slides on the rigid arms 46 and which is attached to the rods 48.The detailed construction of the parts, which forms no part of thepresent invention per se is such that certain portions of the bearingfor the jaws are used to provide the slide bearing for the ring diecarrier. The ring die carrier has a central opening 62 therein intowhich is set a ring die 63 held in place by pins 64. Where a ring die isemployed in place of a manipulator, the arms 46 do not need to movetoward and away from each other so that in place of abutments 53 on theouter ends of the arms 46, elements 65 may be applied having portions 66to engage in vertical slideways 61 on the frame of the press. Thisserves to brace the arms 46 under the added weight imposed by the ringdie and its carrier. With this arrangement the ring die can be raisedand lowered and can be shifted in a fore and aft direction according tothe requirements of the particular forging operation being carried outand the piece can be raised and lowered by operation of the ring die andring die carrier while the upper and lower dies are shifting in the samemanner as where the work piece is being held in a manipulator.

While we have illustrated and described certain particular embodimentsof our invention, it will be understood that this is by way ofillustration and that various changes and modifications may be made inthe construction and ar-- rangement of the parts and in the particularsequence of operation and in the shapes of the various dies.

We claim:

1. A forging press having relatively movable head and bed members, areciprocable slide on each member, a plurality of dies on each slidemovable by reciprocation of the respective slides into and out ofposition to cooperate with a selected die on the opposite slide, and amanipulator between the head and bed members movable crosswise and upand down with respect to the slides for engaging the work piece beingoperated upon and holding it in a position clear of the dies whileeither of the slides is being shifted and for shifting it crosswise ofthe slides.

2. A forging press having relatively movable head and bed members, areciprocable slide on each member, a plurality of dieson each slidemovable by reciprocation of the respective slides into and out ofposition to cooperate with a selected die on the opposite slide, and amanipulator between the head and bed members having jaws thereon, saidjaws being movable toward and away from the work piece being operatedupon in the press, the manipulator being movable crosswise to move awork piece horizontally and up and down with respect to the slides tothereby lift the work piece clear of the dies.

3. A forging press having relatively movable head and bed members, eachhaving a series of dies thereon arranged in a line in a fore and aftdirection, each having a series of dies arranged in a line in acrosswise direction, the

dies in the crosswise line being shiftabie to se lectively bring any oneof such dies into position in the fore and aft line, and means operablebetween the head and bed members for raising and lowering the workpiece, said means being also movable in a fore and aft direction toshift the work piece in such direction.

4. The combination with a forging press hav ing Head and bed memberswhich are relatively movable and which carry a plurality of dies some ofwhich are selectively movable into and out of operating position inaddition to having the relative movement of the head and bed member, ofmeans for moving a work piece being operated upon in the press up anddown with respect to the dies and also in a fore and aft direction, andactuating means for said first means.

5. The combination with a forging press having relatively movable upperand lower members which members have cooperating dies thereon some ofwhich dies are shiftable with respect to others into and out ofoperating position. said press also having a plurality of work engagingstations at different positions between the upper and lower members, ofa manipulator having work holding means thereon, said manipulator beingmovable up and down to hold the work piece being operated upon clear ofthe dies while any shifting thereof is occurring, lator also beingmovable horizontally to transfer the work piece from one station toanother, and power means for operating the manipulator.

6. The combination witha forging press hav ing relatively movable headand bed members and provided with cooperating die elements in differentworking stations, of a work piece handling means comprising spacedhorizontally extending supporting bars located between the head and bedof the press, means for raising and lowering said bars, work engagingand holding means slidably mounted on said bars, and means forreciprocating the work holding means along the bars to enable the workpiece to be transferred from one station to another.

7. The combination with a forging press having relatively movable headand bed members having cooperating die elements in different Workingstations, of a manipulator comprising parallel arms extendinghorizontally between the head and bed members, jaws on said arms mountedfor sliding movement therealong, means for moving the arms toward andaway from each other, means for raising and lowering the arms, and meansconnected with the jaws and movable with the arms for moving the jawsalong the arms to enable the work piece to be transferred from onestation to another.

8. The combination with a forging press having relatively movable headand bed members having cooperating die elements in different workingstations, of a manipulator comprising parallel arms extendinghorizontally between the head and bed members, jaws on said arms mountedfor sliding movement therealong, means for moving the arms toward andaway from each other, means for raising and lowering the arms, a meansmovable with each arm for moving the jaw carried by said arm back andforth along the arm, and means on the arms providing abutments forlimiting the range of movement of the jaws along the arms to enable thework piece to be transferred from one station to another.

9. The combination with a forging press having a bed and a verticallyreciprocable head, the

the said manipubed and the head both having cooperating die elements indifferent working stations, of a manipulator mounted at the rear of thepress and having rigid arms which extend forwardly in a horizontaldirection between the head and the bed of the press, slides movablealong the arms, work gripping jaws carried on the slides, means forreciprocating the slides, means for raising and lowering the arms andmeans for moving the arms toward and away from each other to bring thejaws into and out of work gripping relation, whereby a piece beingforged may be lifted and supported clear of the dies on the bed of thepress and whereby the work piece may be moved horizontally from aposition between the said movable dies to a position between said otherdies.

10. A forging press having a bed and having a head which reciprocates upand down with respect to the bed, a die-carrier slidably mounted in thebed for movement across the bed in a transverse direction, a pluralityof dies on the die-carrier, means for reciprocating the carrier, fixedabutments for limiting the movement of the die-carrier at each end ofits path of travel, and a retractable abutment movable into and out ofthe path of the die-carrier to effect the stopping of said die-carrierat an intermediate point between the two fixed abutments, and means foroperating the said retractable abutment.

11. The combination with a forging press having relatively movable headand bed members each of said members having cooperating die elementsthereon in a plurality of working positions separated from one anotherin a fore and aft direction, of work holding and moving means comprisingsupporting arms extending horizontally between the head and bed membersin a fore and aft direction, a slidable carrier on said arms movable ina fore and aft direction along the arms, a ring die in said carrier,means for operating the carrier, and means for raising and lowering thearms.

12. A forging press having relatively movable head and bed members,having a plurality of cooperating dies at different positions in a foreand aft direction of a manipulator for engaging and holding a work piececlear of the selectively movable dies and for transferring it in a foreand aft direction between said first dies and said second dies, saidmanipulator including jaws movable toward and away from each other andmovable up and down and movable in a fore and aft direction, means forequalizing the extent of movement of the jaws whereby the work piecewill be kept accurately centered between the jaws and will not beshifted to one side or the other of a center line running in a fore andaft direction, and means for limiting the movement of the jaws in a foreand aft direction according to the spacing of the said first and seconddies whereby the work piece will be accurately positioned after it hasbeen transferred in a fore and aft direction.

13. The combination of a forging press having relatively movable headand bed members, each member having two dies thereon spaced from eachother in a fore and aft direction, the dies of one member positioned tocooperate with the corresponding dies of the other member, andamanipulator movable into and out of engagement with a work pieceengaged between either of the two sets of cooperating dies and movablein a direction to transfer the piece from one set of cooperating dies tothe other, said manipulator having movable jaws, said jaws beingconnected to move in unison toward and away from the work piece at thesame rate, and means for limiting the movement of the manipulator toconfine its travel in a fore and aft direction a distance correspondingto the distance between the two sets of dies whereby the work piece willbe accurately positioned when being transferred from one set of dies tothe other.

DAVIT'I S. BELL. BYRON W. DUNHAM.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,258,346. October 7, 1941.

DAVITT S. BELL ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,second column, line 1, strike out A before forging and insert insteadThe combination with a; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of December, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

